Monday, February 28, 2011

This week begins midterm week for me. Let's just say this isn't the most exciting week of my life...rather one of the more grueling. Whenever I'm stuck in a rut, I think back to my senior year AP psychology course. I absolutely LOVED my teacher and I learned so much. One thing I remember is that towards the end of the year, she presented us with the famous "Sunscreen" graduation speech. Before senior year, I had never heard of this speech, but now it is something I will remember always.

"Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts. Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They’re your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you’re 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen."

Have you read this speech before? The parts that I bolded are parts that I don't think could be any more true. It really is a truly touching speech and a great way to remind you that you are lucky every single day. So if you are going through midterm week like me, just remember "Wear Sunscreen". Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Friday, February 25, 2011

Recently many bloggers have been sharing their top 5 list of all sorts of things. Today I figure I would share my top 5 movies. This is a hard one because I love movies. There's nothing more relaxing than laying in bed or on the couch all cozy with friends or family and watching a good movie. Here are my top picks!

Father of the Bride- By far my all time favorite movie. This movie is absolutely timeless and so romantic but also has a comical side. Not to mention the gorgeous house that I have bloggedgushed about previously. I also love the music featured in this movie; Steve Tyrell's voice is dreamy.

Titanic- The greatest love story of all time. The acting is great, Leo is looking too good, and I love the elegance that is portrayed in this film. Not to mention Kate Winslet is a total babe in this film! Sadly, a little fun fact, the Titanic sank on my birthday.

Eloise at the Plaza- I am obsessed. Seriously, this movie is filled with pink, bows and the Plaza Hotel. It's every little girls dream, and I can't help but day dream every time I watch!

Home Alone- This movie is as old as I am and is definitely Christmas appropriate. I could watch it year round. I have blogged about this movie several times before and most include how I am obsessed with the house that they McCallisters live in. I did some snooping and found that it is in Winnetka, Il.To this day, I love the way the Home Alone crew outfitted the house. The wallpapers were unique, and the colors so perfect. I think the interior design was all around timeless!

When Harry Met Sally- "I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible"

And those are my top 5's! Some honorable mentions include: The Blind Side, Risky Business, Wall-E, Friday Night Lights, I Am Legend, Meet the Robinsons, and Animal House. What are your top 5 favorite movies? I'd love to know! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Spring has almost sprung and with warming temperatures, that means new clothes! Who can deny that this season, designers are really stepping up their game. I did a post on Tibi and Milly several days ago, however, Brooks Brothers is so colorful and fun for women this season and not to mention what Kate Spade has in store! All of these bright colors have me itching for spring. If you are like me and cannot wait to go spring shopping, you will set aside a day or few to shop around and try on all the beautiful styles available.
There is one thing that I do not care for when shopping and that is trying on clothing. There have been so many times where I am just too lazy, or too in a rush to try something on and this is a big mistake because I often times end up buying things that are far too large for me. This spring, don't let the dressing rooms stop you!
I have finally learned to wear things that are easy to get in and out of. For example, wearing boots, skinny jeans, tank top, blazer, tons of jewelry and a heavy coat is a lot to slip in and out of! For a day of shopping, try wearing an outfit like this:

All of these options are so easy to get in and out of. Plus flats are the easiest option! No socks to deal with and they slip on and off. As for boots, a lot of boots are hard to get in and out of, however I find that cowboy boots are super easy to slip on and off. Jersey knit dresses don't wrinkle easily, so therefore, they can lay piled on the chair while trying on other things. What do you wear when you are on a shopping marathon? Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

I love Dogeard jewelry. It makes the absolute perfect gift for any occassion and for any lady. I had no idea that they had a cowboy boot bracelet! I am not a necklace girl, if I wear a necklace it's either pearls or my diamond and sapphire necklace. However, I am a bracelet and ring fanatic and Dogeard has hit it on the nose with this bracelet. It's very tiny and understated. It would be perfect to wear every single day! I need, need, need this cowboy boot bracelet. At $30 too, who could resist? My birthday is only a month or so away... but who's counting?! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

If you answered yes to the title, then you are just like me. I am 100% not a morning person at all. I could sleep till noon everyday if it was possible. I don't know if it's just because I'm the "typical" college student or if that's just how I am! Don't get me wrong, I love the morning, especially when I'm forced to get up for some reason (like class or a test) because I love the feeling of getting so much done so early on in the day. However, if there is not pressing issue to get me out of bed, then you can bet I am asleep! If you are like me, then keep reading! I have early classes during the week and it's always a pain waking up early, so I try and do as much as I can the night before to prepare for the day ahead of me!

First, if I know I'm going to curl my hair the next morning, I have the curling iron out, plugged in and ready to go. The same is if I am going to straighten my hair. Simple things like this save me 2 or 3 minutes, but little things like this help me get moving.

I lay out my outfit the night before...even down to the shoes. This way, I am not rooting around for an outfit and trying things on. I think this is the number one biggest time saver. This is also a good idea for people who find themselves reaching for their sweats. Having an outfit laid out gives you no excuses to grab sweats!

I usually hit the gym right after my classes end. Because I don't wear my gym clothes to class (usually) I pack my tennis shoes and shorts (a.k.a. "norts") and a t-shirt so I'm all set to go straight to the gym. I pack my entire bag the night before. This is also great for school work because I usually never forget a notebook or a book and I'm never scrambling around to find a t-shirt to throw in my bag for the gym!

I keep my water bottled filled and ready to just grab and go in the AM. That way I am able to be hydrated with cold water throughout the day!

My coffee maker has a preset option. Therefore, I preset the coffee maker for 15 minutes before I leave. This way, I have hot coffee on the way to class and in class and don't have to waste at least an extra 25 minutes getting to Starbucks, waiting in line, waiting for my drink, and making it to class.

This is kind of silly, but I am telling you, it saves me time! I don't give myself time to have a sit down breakfast. I love love love oatmeal so the night before I put plenty of water in the water heater, and sit out a cup, spoon, and packet of oatmeal. This way, all I have to do is flick the switch on the heater and my breakfast can be made in less than a minute!

And here is the finish product of me all set to go for a morning of classes and an afternoon at the gym and library! Do you have any early morning time saving tips? I am always looking for ideas to shave minutes off of my morning routine! Have a fabulous day!

Monday, February 21, 2011

I am so happy to announce this because she is one of my best friends! She has always joked how she always enters every giveaway that I have and never wins anything on my blog or any other blog, and she finally has! I am so excited for her!

Thank you to all who entered... there were TONS of entries.. let's just say making a scrap of paper for each entry took quite some time. Have a fabulous night! There will be another giveaway coming very soon, so stay tuned and keep reading!

Dear Milly,
My spring shopping fever has officially sprung and I have never seen a design in any of your lines that I don't like. In fact, I am obsessed with everything...and your latest line most definitely does not disappoint. I love the red, navy and white color combination you've got going on and the nautical vibe. The sailboat embellishments are also a fantastic touch. I would like one of everything.
Love,
Summer Wind

Friday, February 18, 2011

With NYFW coming to a close yesterday, I reflect on some of my favorite designers that presented their clothing. I would have to say that I am obsessed with Tibi's Spring 2011 line and am loving their fall 2011 line as well. Their fall line is lacking color a bit but I can work with the burgundy, deep blue, and khaki/tan shades. Here is my favorite look from the fall 2011 line:

I LOVE the cut of this dress. You could definitely dress this down with flats and minimal jewelry, however, you could dress this up by adding heels and layers of pearls and a cute little handbag. Plus this color is so interesting, it's not red, not brown but somewhat of a light cabernet.

I am also love love loving their Spring 2011 line. I can picture myself in a lot of this line! here are my favorites:

This is such a fun little black dress. The cut is different than a traditional LBD would be but that's what makes if fun. It also has pockets!

This dress is stunning. You don't even need to accessorize, the dress just speaks for itself. I can just picture myself sipping cocktails on a beach somewhere. Oh how I'd love to be doing that right now!

They call this color 'lily', however it looks to me that it's a creamy ivory with a little pink hue mixed it. Again, the cut of this dress is fantastic, and the one shoulder makes it perfect for a night out.

Same color as the previous dress but different cut and embellishing. Again, Tibi cuts garments that are just perfect for a woman's body and the embellishing on this dress is to die for!

Obsessed with this turquoise-y green shade and the print is too fun. I think you could start wearing this mid march with brown boots, and then move it into spring with sandals, and even wear it over a bathing suit to the beach. This is definitely a very versatile piece.

Sorority and fraternity formals are right around the corner along with wedding season... Wouldn't you love to sport this gorgeous gown? If it weren't for the $1000 price tag, this would be all mine. The embellishment is incredible and so unique. You would most definitely be the belle of the ball in this.

Are you loving Tibi these past few seasons? I know I am! Have a fabulous day and don't forget to enter the Emma Graham Designs giveaway of a Dayna skirt! Too cute to pass up!!! The giveaway ends Sunday! Have a fabulous day!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

When you're a young girl, you dream of your wedding day and view it as a distant fairy tale, then when you are in college, it seems like it is still so far off because you are still young and in the college mindset. However, I am wedding obsessed. Seriously, I can't get enough and I don't know what it is; I've posted about it here, here, and here. I mean, who doesn't love to get dressed up? Who doesn't love a huge party with all of your closest family and friends and the love of your life? Who doesn't love a celebration? Now I'm starting to see why my obsession has formed. I'm in the 21st year of my life and while marriage still seems extremely far away (still need to graduate college, find a job... oh yeah, and a guy!) it has become a bit more of a reality for me. My GGBig (that's Great-Grand-Big for all of you not familiar with Greek family lineage) is engaged, some of my friends are in long term relationships, and in the blog-o-sphere there is always someone getting engaged or planning a wedding. So therefore, that is my justification for this post: Engagement rings... a girl can dream, right?

I posted this one on my Tumblr several days ago. It's Harry Winston! This might be the most perfect ring in the entire world.

I am in love with this one as well. I can't recall where it is from because I've had it saved in a folder for quite a while now! It is SO sparkly!

This one is so unique. It has a fun art deco vibe. It is by Tacori.

Ohhh Cartier, so simple, so classic, SO perfect.

Oh Tiffany's, sometimes I think you are so overrated, but with this one, you had me at hello.

I cringe when thinking about a gold engagement ring, however, David Yurman in gold would have me skipping down the aisle.

Not a gold fan? Bet you can't resist this little DY number... I thought so...
Just a reminder to enter the Emma Graham Designs giveaway! It ends this Sunday! Wouldn't the Chrissy dress make a perfect bridesmaid dress?!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

I am a little behind with the current events on this one, but I found this on YouTube and immediately knew I had to do a post on this to get everyone's thoughts! A little background is that this was a dance competition and these 3 girls performed an amazing routine. However, critics say that this dance was extremely inappropriate for such young girls to perform. Take a look...

What do you think of these girls? Do you think that they are too young to be dancing as such? Personally, I think these girls have incredible talent. I was a dancer from age 3 all the way through 9th grade and then I switched to cheerleading. I do think some of the moves were innapropriate however, it was extremely well done. They are also being criticized for the costuming that they were dressed in. I remember when I danced, we had costumes just like that and so did all of the other dancers that I knew. Below is the interview they had on ABC where the parents were interviewed:

And here is another video of the girls dancing, they really are amazing dancers and they have so much potential! I really hope all of the criticism didn't harm their passion for dancing!

What do you think of this "scandal". Being a dancer, I think I am somewhat biased so I'd love to hear others opinions! Have a fabulous day and don't forget to enter the Emma Graham Designs Dayna skirt giveaway! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

This week the weather is super warm, however, this was an outfit from a week or two ago that I am just now getting around to posting! The embellished sequin sweater is from J. Crew, the pants are Ann Taylor Motorcycle pants, and the boots Ralph Lauren. I love the cut of the top of the sweater; it's very flattering!
Don't forget to enter the Emma Graham Designs GIVEAWAY! It ends this Sunday! Have a fabulous day!
Yours,
sCe

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentines Day to everyone! I have a very special Valentines Day treat for you all... a GIVEAWAY! If you have not yet heard of Emma Graham Designs, I urge your to head straight to their newly updated website and check out all of their gorgeous clothing for women! Emma and Jackie lived in Boston and have been best friends for a long time. After graduating college, they headed to New York City to make their dream become a reality. Their first full line is their Spring/Summer 2011 line and it is just debuting! I am so excited because they have gorgeous pieces; especially for all of you college gals out there! EGD has classic clothing but with a fun and flirty twist. The cut of their dresses are classic and perfect to fit a woman's body, however they add fun touches such as ruffles, bright colors, and pretty designs.

Emma Graham Designs has graciously offered a Dayna skirt to one lucky reader! I am in LOVE with this skirt; it is just too perfect. Who could resist the giant bow?! I am loving the pink seersucker shown above, however, it comes in a Navy/Salmon option that is just as adorable! When it gets warmer, I can most definitely see this as being an integral part of any lady's wardrobe! Some other pieces that I am just loving are the Chrissy dress and the Kerry dress; both are perfect for so many occasions!
How to enter?

Mandatory: Go to the Emma Graham website and comment with which Emma Graham design is your favorite, and become a follower of Summer Wind.

1 extra entry: Blog about this giveaway and comment with the link to the blog

Put everything you've done in ONE comment. This giveaway will run through Sunday February 20th at 11pm. Good luck to everyone and thank you again to Emma Graham Design for this fabulous giveaway!!!
Yours,
sCe

Thursday, February 10, 2011

A lot of people have asked me what kinds of things I do to keep my sorority room organized because they have a hard time keeping their small space away from home organized! I am an organization freak...Anything and everything has a place in my room, that way I always know where to find something. Sadly my roommate hopped across the pond for this semester, but the upside to that is that I get my own room which opens up a lot more space for me. I have double closets, double dressers, double desks, and double beds (my little likes to sleep over all the time and it makes a great bed for visitors such as my sister, cCm!).

I've posted this picture previously, but to store my bows, I clip them onto a large strand of grosgrain ribbon and then hang them on the back of my door next to a storage pouch! This way, it is easy to keep them organized, and they are all laid out for me to choose which one I'd like to wear!

This is my first closet, the furniture is all the same in all of the rooms in the sorority house, but they are actually quite spacious for college living. This closet houses my jeans folded at the top, on the left are skinny jeans, and the right are boot cut. I also have several clutches and purses all folded up on that shelf. Then my clothes are in color order. This closet houses my "day" shirts such as oxfords, and other knit tops. The right half starts in color order again and include most of my "night" tops. Below the hanging clothes, I have sperrys, tennis shoes, duck mocs, cowboy boots, brown riding boots, and black riding boots. Then we are lucky to have a drawer at the bottom where I store all of my linens.

This drawer isn't as organized as it could be, but it houses all of my homework necessities. This is a desk drawer and is right next to my bed, so I also keep things that I wouldn't want to get out of bed for, like advil. I also have my iTouch so I can easily plug it into my computer to charge, or grab it when I'm headed to the gym. The trays are just plastic silverware trays from Target. They really keep things organized. I also found that I left one space open for holding multivitamins. That way, I always can grab one, and don't have to leave the ascetically unpleasing bottle out in the open. I honestly think that keeping them right in my drawer like that helps me to remember to take my multi-vitamin daily!

This is where the two dressers are pushed together to make for one big table-top space. To the right of the black trunk is where the TV sits! On the left, this is actually supposed to hold CD's, however, I think it is great for holding hair products, lotions, etc. It makes them "grabbable" but helps to keep the clutter to a minimum. I am a huge advocate of crystal ring holders. So much so, that I have one at home and one at school. I believe the one pictured is Waterford crystal, and the other one that I have at home is Lenox. I also have a small lamp to light this area because it doesn't get much light and this is where I curl/straighten my hair! The other little silver holder is host to my cotton balls and q-tips, just another way to hide the clutter!

This is above my refrigerator. This is a go to spot every single morning so I can get my coffee fix! This basket holds my Lilly cups for things such as juice, but also some of my tumblers for tea and coffee. It also holds Splenda and my coffee! This basket matches with the baskets that sit in my hutch above my desk!

This is an example of where I store extra's! In the plastic drawers that you can find at Target. I would usually say that buying those things are cheap and make your room less home-y, but I have yet to find an alternative, so if you know of one, I'd love to know! You can see the entire drawer area in the picture below. The first drawer holds all of my extra make up that I don't use on a daily basis, or refills of my daily make up in case I run out! The other drawers hold things such as chap sticks, hair accessories such as gumbands, and nail clippers, etc.

These are the baskets that I have atop of my hutch. In the top left I keep medicine, my nailpolish collection, and first aid. The top right bin, I keep computer cords and accessories along with sunglasses, croakies, and a few other random items. The basket next to my printer is for my headband collection! It keeps them organized and hidden away. All I have to do is pull out the basket, and I can see all of my headband choices!

I've blogged about my love for shoe pockets previously and this Laura Ashley number matches well with my room! It has since moved locations since this picture was taken back in August, but it still does its' job!

What are some ways that you organize your room? I am always on the look out for a new way to organize things and get rid of clutter, so I would love to hear your suggestions! Have a fabulous day!